Artvoices Books

Did You Kiss A Cat Today??? was written by 3 poets who applied the skill and sophistication of how they write for older folks and applied it to how we write for younger folks. For one thing, they think children are very smart and have a very sly sense of humor. Sometimes, though, adults overlook this. They don’t, and they don’t talk down! They’ve tried to meet children on their level, a level they consider pretty high. Plus, they try not to be too preachy. Poetry is true and serious and fun, and that’s the magic they wanted to convey. This book is fresh and exhilarating because even though these poems come from three distinct sensibilities, they do, both individually and collectively, conjure a child’s world with its irrepressible freshness. Everything that happens can be the poem. The smallest thing; the largest thing. To tell a story is good. To tell just a piece of a story is good. In a poem, you don’t have to finish the story. Sometimes the middle of the story can be best! So, enjoy the poems!” 

Notes To My Daughter is for girls only. A book of positive affirmations to instill hope, change and fearlessness. From an early age girls and boys are taught to behave in certain ways based on religion, society, and traditions. These behaviors are learned and unfortunately and routinely a disadvantage for young women. This book comes from the unconditional love a father has for his daughter. A written guide for girls that will empower, transform and transition them into womanhood knowing they are powerful, intelligent, and enough. Notes To My Daughter encourages girl power and women’s empowerment. This book features profiles of influential and groundbreaking Black and Latin women who have set the precedent and are proof that anything is possible. Notes To My Daughter is an insightful, and powerful book that will instill in your little girl that she is the masterpiece of her life and nothing is beyond her reach. 

The Grossery Store is a book to inspire a health first, conscious movement, amongst kids from the African American and Hispanic communities.  The 13-year-old author of the book, Ziyan, lives by the motto: Healthy, Wealthy and Wise. She believes health is paramount and without it there is only low self-esteem, sickness and suffering. Ziyan wants to inform kids that their favorite snacks have a healthy option. She doesn’t believe kids should deprive themselves of treats, but she wants to highlight the use of a balance. In turn when this balance is achieved, it will lead to a healthier, fruitful, and active childhood. Her passion is standing up for the voiceless of society and being an advocate for change and the betterment of society. 

Artvoices Magazine 2008-2018 "Special Collection" features ground breaking articles mainly on emerging, neglected and under recognized artists of color, LGBTQ, mature and women. 

Established in 2008 Artvoices Magazine was an important and necessary platform for artists and art professionals who were contributing to the landscape of contemporary art but were routinely left out of the conversation. 

Artvoices Magazine 2008-2018 celebrates the individuals featured in our publication, many or whom are influential, famous and household names today. 

his book will educate and inspire collectors, art enthusiasts and the public-at-large about their favorite artists before they became famous. 

Artvoices Magazine 2008-2018 Past Notable Features: Frank Stella, Thelma Golden, Thomas Hirschhhorn, Gary Simmons, Elizabeth Catlett, Carrie Mae Weems, Christian Boros, Tony Fehrer, Fischli & Weiss, Willie Birch, Robert Tannen, Renee Stout, Dan Cameron, Franklin Sirmans, Sanford Biggers, Alexander Venet, Ammar Eloueini, Lucien Smith, Derrick Adams, Danny Simmons, Kathy Grayson, Deborah Willis, Amanda Coulson, Shamim Momin, Swoon, Jeremy Kost, Sandow Birk, Bruce High Quality Foundation, Miljohn Ruperto, Clifford Owens, iona rozeal brown, Rasheed Newsome, Albert Ledner, Billie Milam Weisman, Mel Chin, Paul D Miller aka DJ Spooky, Jefferson Pinder, Annina Nosei, Spike Lee, Frank Gehry, James Franco, Bernar Venet, Kenny Scharf.

Artvoices Magazine was created by artists for artists and was instrumental in launching the careers of artists and art writers in the USA. No other art periodical in this period had the influence this magazine had on the art community and the public at large. 

Lisa Levy’s ‘Thoughts In My Head’ pays homage to post modernists and famed artists Jenny Holzer and Barbara Kruger featuring over 100 images of her popular and important text based artwork. The book was conceptualized by the written language that's out in the world — graffiti, signs, posters, flyers, matchbooks — in one big cauldron. How quickly words are processed and discarded if they are processed at all. She believes ultimately language is the best tool to communicate our thoughts efficiently, and however woefully inadequate. 

In "FAVORITE: Recipes to Inspire the Home Chef" cookbook, Chef Nanette Smalley of the noted ‘La Querencia’ restaurant in which she was the chef/owner, expresses her love and affinity for food, nutrition and cooking. Nanette had only one focus when creating the recipes to include in this cookbook, that the recipes included are accurate and concise in which every cook, no matter the level of knowledge and or experience would 'all' reach the desired and delicious end result.  With the assistance of the professional organizations that support her passions: The National Association of Female Executives, The Roundtable for Women in the Food Business, and The James Beard Association she is well versed, seasoned and a trusted Chef. 

Lali Khalid is an immigrant artist grappling with issues of identity, home, family and diaspora. In her photographs captured over a span of ten years, she illustrates complex challenges exploring new ways of retaining her identity in an environment of changing ideologies and perspectives. Khalid successfully bridges two ends of spectrum: the fading past and the vague future. The images viewed without a predetermined perception explain the evolving narrative through the veiled stories imbedded in them.

A riveting photo journal documenting the pandemic by notable and noteworthy actor Richard Edson. It’s the stuff of science fiction and dystopian nightmares. But the writers and doomsayers were right. And here we are. Each of us who have lived through Year Zero having our own stories to tell. This is my story, in photographs, and texts. 

60 Americans is a response to the ill-gotten gains of flipper-collectors, money corrupted and trend obsessed gallerists, shopping mall inspired art fairs, nepotism and favoritism of the made-men and women of privileged MFA programs in America. 60 Americans was a group exhibition that documented the alternative perspective on what’s relevant and important in the current landscape of American contemporary art.

50 Contemporary Artists is my response to publishers, critics and curators who systematically regurgitate the same list of contemporary artists every season. Being an Artist, Editor-In-Chief of Artvoices Magazine and the Curator of Artvoices Art Books, I view thousands of artists and their works annually. Arguably, countless artists are intentionally left out of the conversation because of geography, race, religion and or sexual preference. Art and its function and or appeal to the public-at-large should remain subjective. 50 Contemporary Artists appeals to a wide demographic of art professionals and art enthusiasts who are interested in art and artists. The survey features artists of color, all genders, LGBTQ and diverse religious backgrounds. The Art World current trend has shifted to visual artists who have been marginalized and or discriminated against are now being exhibited in galleries and museums Worldwide to a welcoming and exuberant audience. 50 Contemporary Artists survey book assists art professionals and the public-at-large a necessary point of reference to interpret the artists practice and process. This annual book represents the now and next generations of artists to watch and collect.

Smoothing Over the Pudding is about a Christian 'cat' family and telling the truth no matter the consequences. Joyce, the mother cat shows her family the delicious pudding she made for Sunday dessert. She politely asks them not to touch it, and they all agree.  But that night Joyce’s daughter Jane sneaks into the kitchen while everyone is asleep and eats 3 spoonfuls of the pudding and smooths it over so no one would notice. This thoughtful and inspiring picture book is essential for children understanding the purpose of telling the truth and being forgiven.

Families searching for a book about separation anxiety disorder as a result of divorce will discover the language needed to give their child the strength to take their first steps toward independence, faith and courage knowing it isn’t goodbye, it’s See You Later. 

In the 1990s New York, the information Superhighway was a deer path through the vast woods. A time when Paparazzi wasn’t a bad word, and Agents, Managers and PR people would invite the photographers to their events in hopes that we would photograph their celebrity client to run in the gossip section of New York City's nightlife publications. I was a photographer in search of celebrities and had to speculate, guess, and make judgment calls about where and when they would make an appearance. I networked with Doormen, Groupies, Party Crashers, Chauffeurs, Editors, Writers, Business Owners, and Bartenders, and that was to receive information which was spotty at best. I knew that certain letters (CLS) on the license plate meant a celebrity car service as opposed to a regular black car. I knew the back doors of the Plaza hotel, the escalator in the rear of the Ritz Carlton, where the SNL cast would go for drinks after wrap, or when the guests arrived for the Letterman show, and the side door they would go through. After I captured the image the celebrity portrait was published in my column in Black Book magazine. The negatives, the leftover prints, or the slides went into a shoebox and a cardboard container and was forgotten. Life was good, then Princess Di happened, and we all had to stand behind a barrier and then the iPhone happened and now we are known as the paparazzi. Then the Twin Towers fell, and NYC went through a collective mourning. American Royalty is comprised of the images in the shoebox, all shot on film and with Celebrities who welcomed my lens and the attention. 

The Smith & Wisznia collection’s singular focus: artists living, working and exhibiting in Louisiana post Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana during this period of renewal, rebirth, and rebuilding experienced an art renaissance. The Smith & Wisznia Collection features artists of color, women, LGBTQ and artists of diverse religious backgrounds. The Art World's current trend has shifted to visual artists who have been marginalized and or discriminated against who are now being exhibited in galleries and museums Worldwide to a welcoming and exuberant audience. The Smith & Wisznia Collection is a window into a collector's and curator's vision, focus and commitment and their collective's contributions to the landscape of Contemporary Art and Society. 

empowerment is for girls, teenagers and young women. A book of positive affirmations to instill hope, change and fearlessness. From an early age girls and boys are taught to behave in certain ways based on religion, society, and traditions. These behaviors are learned and unfortunately and routinely a disadvantage for young women. As a parent of an 8-year-old girl in the 21st century I fear societal norms and social media’s residual regarding anxiety, depression, loneliness, suicidal thoughts and the promotion of self-sexualizing behaviors. I don’t want my daughter to believe she is less than, or all she can become is someone’s lover, mother, or housewife. She isn’t anyone’s property, and she doesn’t have to give anyone power over her. To achieve anything of real value in this life, you must believe you are deserving and worth it. If you can see yourself living the dream, then you can manifest destiny but first you must believe in yourself. This book comes from the unconditional love a father has for his daughter. My highest expectations for her living her best life. A written guide for girls, teenagers and young women, that will empower, transform and transition them into womanhood knowing they are powerful, intelligent, and enough. empowerment is an insightful, and powerful book that will instill in girls, teenagers and young women that they are the masterpiece of their lives and nothing is beyond her reach. 

‘Pieces of a Man’ brings together 25 years of street photographs by noted American photographer Jamel Shabazz.“Beginning in Brooklyn’s tight-knit neighborhoods, including his own, Jamel Shabazz captured a true reflection of people of color now revered as a form of social commentary. His work resonates around the world because it is authentic. He has the authority to speak for us and yet he maintains genuine humility and respect for his people. From the streets of Brooklyn to Europe to Africa, Jamel’s work is inclusive and compassionate without imposing his views on how people should represent themselves. He gives his subjects control over their own image, and in that you see the dignity that he sees in them; turning everyday people into icons. While some celebrate an era or style, Jamel reminds us to celebrate the people, not just the image.”

The monograph Dead Lost or Displaced documents the lives of Louisiana natives mostly in and around New Orleans and Baton Rouge. This book is dedicated to the innocent, who either are Dead, Lost or Displaced due to the events that occurred after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. Dead Lost or Displaced features excerpts from the New Orleans Times Picayune article titled: “Peace Among the Ruins” by Pulitzer prize winner Chris Rose author of 1 Dead in Attic, which is a collection of stories recounting the first four harrowing months of life in New Orleans after Katrina. The book went on to become a New York Times Bestseller.

In ‘Coalescing Geometries' the painter expresses a creative response to her environment and an inner sense of the essence of nature’s growth force. The designs intricacy with its prismatic color sensibility springs from a love of nature and its patterns. The ethereal and kinetic sensations reflected in 'Coalescing Geometries' reflect the growth patterns found in living forms. These geometries we recognize and know from our sensorial experience of nature in our immediate environment. The geometries found in this monograph are associated with those seen in plant growth, flowers, waves, spirals in shells, pine cones and also in mineral structures such as crystals. While working with geometrical arrangements, she finds the “movement, universal beauty and symmetry inherent to structures stemming from laws of growth. A shared numerical pattern in nature that permeates the arrangement of parts amongst the whole can be seen in the leaves and branches of a tree or the petals of a flower.